Receptacle for storing film and the like



May 28, 1963 G. J. LALLEY RECEPTACLE FOR STORING FILM AND THE LIKE Filed May 11, 1961 I/VVE/VTOI? Qeraid rf .LaZZey BY %ma( ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,091,327 RECEPTACLE FOR STORING FILM AND THE LIKE Gerald J. Lalley, 3516 Madison, Bellwood, Ill. Filed May 11, 1961, Ser. No. 109,312 2 Claims. ((11. 206-1) This invention relates to an improvement in a receptacle and particularly to a container and receptacle for storing X-ray-type film.

The present receptacle invention is particularly designed to store film sheets of the X-ray-type prior to their exposure. Such film is exceedingly sensitive to light and becomes completely unusable if it is not maintained under maximum dark room conditions.

In hospitals much of this type of X-ray film is utilized and very frequent spoilage takes place since technicians may inadvertently remove film from the conventional container, or fail to close the container, so that when the room light is flashed on the film is exposed to the light and is spoiled. Many times the container, which may be an ordinary box, or bin, is left open and thus when the light is flashed on the film is spoiled. Or the container may not be light-tight so that portions of the film are spoiled without the technician knowing that the same has occurred. This causes great hardship and difiiculty on the patient who may be X-rayed since he then will have to return for a subsequent X-ray because of the spoilage of the film in the earlier case. Or in cases of emergency where an X-ray is immediately necessary it is of particular concern when the film is found to have been spoiled by the inadvertence of the technician in failing to close the conventional box or bin whereupon light causes the film to be unusable.

It is thus a prime object of this invention to provide an improved receptacle for containing film in a light-tight condition the said container being automatically closed when the operator releases the cover of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved film receptacle which is effectively sealed by means of a cover the said cover always being urged to its closed position so that the technician who removes the film from the receptacle need not concern himself about the closing of the cover as long as the receptacle is maintained in a vertical position.

A still further and more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved receptacle or container for containing film in a light-tight position the said receptacle including means for urging the cover to a constantly closed position, said means including a second container positioned for reciprocating within the first receptacle and being adapted to be moved into a position whereupon film projects upwardly from the first receptacle so that it can easily be handled by the technician, the weight of said second container or receptacle assuring positive closing of the cover when the cover is released by the technician.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from a reading of the specification when examined in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view with a portion broken away of an improved container or receptacle for containing film the said container showing a cover in an open position;

' FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view through the container shown in *FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a container or receptacle with its cover in an open position; and

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FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of a latch element for securely locking the cover of a film receptacle in a closed position.

Referring now to the figures of the drawing a film storage box is generally designated by the reference character 10. The film storage box 10 comprises an outer container or receptacle 11 having opposite sides 12, a front side 13 and a rear side 14. An inner receptacle is designated at 15 the said receptacle 15 being adapted to slide vertically within the outer receptacle .11. The inner receptacle 15 also comprises a rear side 16, a front side 17 and opposed sides 18 and 19.

A plurality of film sheets 20 are shown supported within the inner receptacle 15. The outer receptacle L1 is opened at its upper end and likewise the receptacle 15 is provided with an upper opening. The film sheets 20 project upwardly outwardly of the opening of the receptacle 15. The film sheets may be X-ray-type film which is stored within the storage box 10 in an unexposed condition. In this condition they, of course, are highly sensitive to light. A cover 21 includes a peripheral flange 22 and is provided with a peripheral seal 23 which in the closed position of the cover 21 engages the upper portions of the outer receptacle 1-1 for effectively sealing the same with respect to light. Thus it may be stated that the seal 23 provides a light-tight condition. A knob 24- is attached to the cover flange 22 to provide an easy grip for the technician or operator. A flanged plate 25 is secured to the underneath side of the cover 21 and comprises a peripheral flange 26 having adjacent the rear side of the receptacle 11, a lip 27 which is adapted to engage upper portions of the film 20 to move them forwardly toward the front side so that the technician may readily grasp and select sheets of film to be removed from the box 10. The flange plate 25 is securely connected to the cover 21 by means of screw and nuts 28.

A stop portion is provided on the inner receptacle 15 on the rear side '16, the said stop portion 29 projecting upwardly to engage the lip 27 in the open condition of the cover 21 to limit the counterclockwise movement of the cover 21 so that it is in the open position disposed over the upper opening of the inner receptacle 15.

A hinged element 31) is connected to a hinged element 31 by means of a hinged pin 32. The hinged element 30 is connected by means of screws 3-3 to a projection 34 of the inner receptacle 15 and the hinge element 31 is suitably connected to the cover 21.

A pair of lifting elements 35 are respectively connected to opposite sides 18, 19 of the inner receptacle -15 by means of pins 36. The lifting elements 35 may be suitable links or flexible elements and their upper ends are connected to eyelets 37 which project downwardly from the cover 21. The eyelets 27 include screw members 39 projecting through the cover 21 and being suitably connected thereto by means of nuts 40.

As best shown in FIGURE 4 a latch element 41 comprises a latch arm 42 which is pivotally connected at 43 to the front side 13 of the receptacle 11. The latch arm 42 includes a hook 44 and is urged to pivot in a counterclockwise direction by means of a spring 45. The hook 44 is adapted to engage a pin 46 on the cover 21 to securely lock the cover against accidental opening it the storage box 10 is moved to a non-vertical or upright position. A latch limit means 47 is suitably connected to the front side 13 for limiting the counterclockwise and clockwise movement of the latch arm 42.

The film storage box 10 disclosed may be stored in a suitable bin, cabinet, etc., in an upright position. It may be stored in this manner with other similar containers for containing various size X-ray film. In the upright position the operator may open the cabinet or bin and he then grasps the knob 24 and opens the cover 21. This is, of course, done by the operator or technician at a time when the room within which the box is stored is in complete darkness. The technician now moves the cover 21 in a counterclockwise direction and by so doing the lifting elements 35 move the receptacle upwardly so that the film sheets project upwardly of the upper end of the receptacle 11. Simultaneously with this opening of the cover 21 the lip 27 is rotated so as to engage and urge the film sheets 20 toward the front side 13 of the box 10' so that the technician can easily remove the desired number of sheets.

As the technician moves the cover 21 to the open position the stop portion 29 of the receptacle 15 moves upwardly of the upper open end of the receptacle 11 and engages the lip 27 thus stopping or limiting further counterclockwise movement of the cover 21. Thus the cover is still disposed over the upper open end of the receptacle 11.

When the film has been removed the technician merely removes his grip on the knob 24 and the weight of the receptacle 15 including the film snap-s shut, by gravity, the cover 21 and firmly closes the same against the entry of light. Furthermore the latch element 41 is immediately engaged and the spring 4-5 immediately locks the latch arm 42 with respect to the pin 46 so that the cover 21 is tightly secured and is light-tight with respect to the receptacle 11.

It is particularly noted that the eyelets 37 are connected to the cover 21 substantially close to the front side 13 when the cover is in the closed position.

In other words the upper ends of the lifting elements are connected to the front end of the cove-r 21 so that the moment arm or best leverage is obtained so that the receptacle and film weight positively urge the cover to its shut or closed position. Thus the weight of the receptacle and film is most efficient in its urging of the cover 21 to the closed position. Thus the points of connection of the eyelets 37 are substantially removed from the center of gravity of the container and toward the front thereof to provide a positive quick acting closing of the cover 21.

Thus it is believed that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved and an improved film storage box has been provided. It must be understood, of course, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as disclosed nor from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. 'A container comprising an outer rectangular normally vertical receptacle having an upper open end, a rear side and a front side, a second rectangular receptacle disposed within said outer receptacle, said second receptacle having an upper opening, being substantially shorter in height, than said first receptacle and being adapted to support in an upright position a plurality of sheet like members which project upwardly from said upper opening, said shorter second receptacle being adapted to slide vertically within said first receptacle, a cover for said first receptacle, hinge means connecting said cover to a rear side of said first receptacle whereby the cover may be lifted by an operator from a closed to an open position relative to said open end, a flanged member connected to said cover adjacent said hinge means and in the closed position projecting downwardly into the first receptacle, and in the open position for engaging the upper ends of sheet members to urge them in a direction toward said front side, lifting elements connected to opposite sides of said second receptacle, means connecting said lifting elements to said cover substantially close to the front side of said first receptacle, whereby when said cover is opened said lifting elements lift said second receptacle upwardly to a position whereby said sheet like members project outwardly from the upper open end, means on said second receptacle projecting upwardly from the second receptacle during the open position of said cover and engaging said flanged member to limit the open position of said cover whereby said cover is held in a substantially upright position urged by the weight of the second receptacle toward the upper open end, whereby when an operator releases said cover the same is closed positively and tightly by the weight of said second receptacle.

2. A container comprising an outer rectangular normally vertical receptacle having an upper open end, a rear side and a front side, a second rectangular receptacle disposed within said outer receptacle, said second receptacle having an upper opening, being substantially shorter in height than said first receptacle and being adapted to support in an upright position a plurality of sheet like members which project upwardly from said upper opening, said shorter second receptacle being adapted to slide vertically within said first receptacle, a cover for said first receptacle, hinge means connecting said cover to a rear side of said first receptacle whereby the cover may be lifted by an operator from a closed to an open position relative to said open end, a stop member connected to the underneath side of said cover and in the closed position of said cover projecting into said outer receptacle, a lifting element connected to said second receptacle, means connecting said lifting element to said cover substantially close to the front side of said first receptacle, whereby when said cover is opened said lifting element lifts said second receptacle upwardly to a position whereby said sheet like members project outwardly from the upper open end, limiting means on the upper portion of said second receptacle projecting upwardly from the second receptacle during the open position of said cover and engaging said stop member to limit the open position of said cover whereby said stop member and limiting means engage each other and said cover is restrained against further opening movement and is positioned in inclined relation over said second receptacle and is urged downwardly to a closed position by the weight of the second receptacle whereby, when an operator releases said cover the same is closed positively and tightly by the weight of said second receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 816,886 Shonnard Apr. 3, 1906 1,163,183 Stoll Dec. 7, 1915 1,334,717 Silverman Mar. 23, 1920 1,475,567 Dall Nov. 27, 1923 1,758,168 Olivaux May 13, 1930 1,807,936 Saunders June 2, 1931 1,902,963 Lepage et al. Mar. 28, 1933 1,985,615 Mitchell Dec. 25, 1934 2,039,559 Segal May 5, 1936 2,391,453 Goldbert Dec. 25, 1945 2,946,474 Knapp July 26, 1960 3,008,604 Garner Nov. 14, 1961 

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING AN OUTER RECTANGULAR NORMALLY VERTICAL RECEPTACLE HAVING AN UPPER OPEN END, A REAR SIDE AND A FRONT SIDE, A SECOND RECTANGULAR RECEPTACLE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID OUTER RECEPTACLE, SAID SECOND RECEPTACLE HAVING AN UPPER OPENING, BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER IN HEIGHT, THAN SAID FIRST RECEPTACLE AND BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION A PLURALITY OF SHEET LIKE MEMBERS WHICH PROJECT UPWARDLY FROM SAID UPPER OPENING, SAID SHORTER SECOND RECEPTACLE BEING ADAPTED TO SLIDE VERTICALLY WITHIN SAID FIRST RECEPTACLE, A COVER FOR SAID FIRST RECEPTACLE, HINGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID COVER TO A REAR SIDE OF SAID FIRST RECEPTACLE WHEREBY THE COVER MAY BE LIFTED BY AN OPERATOR FROM A CLOSED TO AN OPEN POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID OPEN END, A FLANGED MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID COVER ADJACENT SAID HINGE MEANS AND IN THE CLOSED POSITION PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY INTO THE FIRST RECEPTACLE, AND IN THE OPEN POSITION FOR ENGAGING THE UPPER ENDS OF SHEET MEMBERS TO URGE THEM IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID FRONT SIDE, LIFTING ELEMENTS CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SECOND RECEPTACLE, MEANS CONNECTING SAID LIFTING ELEMENTS TO SAID COVER SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSE TO THE FRONT SIDE OF SAID FIRST RECEPTACLE, WHEREBY WHEN SAID COVER IS OPENED SAID LIFTING ELEMENTS LIFT SAID SECOND RECEPTACLE UPWARDLY TO A POSITION WHEREBY SAID SHEET LIKE MEMBERS PROJECT OUTWARDLY FROM THE UPPER OPEN END, MEANS ON SAID SECOND RECEPTACLE PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM THE SECOND RECEPTACLE DURING THE OPEN POSITION OF SAID COVER AND ENGAGING SAID FLANGED MEMBER TO LIMIT THE OPEN POSITION OF SAID COVER WHEREBY SAID COVER IS HELD IN A SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT POSITION URGED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE SECOND RECEPTACLE TOWARD THE UPPER OPEN END, WHEREBY WHEN AN OPERATOR RELEASES SAID COVER THE SAME IS CLOSED POSITIVELY AND TIGHTLY BY THE WEIGHT OF SAID SECOND RECEPTACLE. 